Registration is open for therapy dog preparation
classes beginning Thursday, March 12.

Therapy dogs and their handlers are volunteer teams in the community
that are brought into settings such as nursing homes, memory care,
airports, schools and hospitals for therapeutic interaction. A
person with emotional, spiritual and physical needs benefit from
loveable, trained therapy dogs. Minimum volunteering is once per
quarter after passing the tests.

The four-week training class, open to dogs 1 year or older, will run
each Thursday at 6:30pm. Classes are $75 per dog/handler team, and
owners must provide proof of rabies vaccination.

Class instruction includes emphasis on handling skills, exposure to
medical equipment, test preparation and field trips.

Therapy Dogs are volunteer
dogs, along with handlers, which are brought into schools,
hospitals, convalescent homes, and other therapeutic settings to
interact with patients and staff. The dogs are there for the patient
to pet, comb, walk or just talk to. The gift to others by dogs
are heart-felt.

It may spark the memory of a former pet,
soothe a patient's worries or brighten their day from the usual
unexciting one. The rewards of volunteering as a Therapy Dog
team are not only beneficial to the patient, but also for you and
your dog!

If you believe your dog is a natural "super hero" and ready
for testing, then perhaps now is the time!

If you believe basic obedience training such as: Canine Good Citizen
and/or Therapy Dog Prep classes
would
benefit you and your dog, we help you learn how to handle
certain situations that might occur in the field.
It will also teach your dog how to stay focused on you and remain
calm in highly distracting environments.

An even temperament and
proper socialization are key elements for a dog to become a
registered Therapy Dog. By going to Therapy Dog preparation training
classes, it can help an owner understand what is required of them
and their dog in order to become a confident Therapy Dog team.